Prescott
 |
| April 21, 2012 |
Hikers beware, this Friday April 27 -Sunday April 29, 2012
is the weekend of Prescott's famous Whiskey Off-Road Bike Race. This year, 1,750 mountain bikers have
registered and as the route follows busy downtown streets and popular hiking
trails alike, you may want to steer clear of the area if you prefer hiking with
less traffic. We hiked a section
of the course this past weekend and encountered dozens of athletes practicing
for the race. These trails are
part of the City of Prescott’s Circle trail system—a collection of national
forest, county and local trails, strung together in a 50-mile loop. From the
Aspen Creek trailhead, we began hiking on Cold Springs #393 which starts out
with an immediate uphill haul, then flattens out, wandering through forests
of Ponderosa pines with many sunny clearings. Soon, views of Prescott's Thumb Butte area pop out over the
trees. Cold Spring--a damp rocky
depression---appears on the left just before the trail ends at the Potts Creek
#327 trail. Trail 327 has lots of
ups-and-downs, staying close to the stream at first, but soon dives into the
woodlands through shady canyons, sun-washed meadows and a short burnt
section. A three-way junction for
327-391-9401J presents many options.
Continue on 327 to access myriad trails near Thumb Butte or (as we did)
take trail 9401J (unsigned, but it's the trail on the left denoted by a path of
logs) for a moderately strenuous, mostly exposed uphill haul to Sierra Prieta
Overlook
LENGTH: 11.3
miles out-and-back
Cold Springs #393:
1.6 miles one-way
Potts Creek #327: 2 miles one-way
Trail #9401J: 2.3 miles one way
RATING: easy-moderate
ELEVATION: 6,200’- 6,940'
GETTING THERE:
Aspen Trail trailhead:
From the AZ69/89 junction in Prescott continue 1.25 miles
west on 69 (becomes Gurley St) to Montezuma St. Turn left (south) on Montezuma
(turns into AZ89/White Spar Road) and go 1 mile to the light at Copper Basin
Road. Turn right and go 4.6 miles on
Copper Basin (turns to good dirt after 1.6 miles) to the trailhead on the
right---signed Aspen Creek Trailhead.
BIKE RACE INFO:
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